As Kenya’s two main presidential contenders jostle for votes in the upcoming election, a third candidate has emerged on a marijuana-and-hyena testicles campaign to help solve the country’s economic woes.
East Africa’s richest nation will hold elections on August 9, with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto leading a tight race.
However, reggae aficionado George Wajackoyah has emerged as a wild card candidate, pledging to erase the country’s debt with his “ganja solution”.
Wajackoyah has attracted younger members of the electorate, and many say mainstream politicians have failed to tackle corruption, inflation and unemployment.
The undertaker-turned-law professor has polled about 2% of the vote, but could have a say in the election if he endorses one of the front-runners or takes votes from another.
During his campaign trial, he has promised to wipe out nearly $70bn (£57.9bn) of Kenya’s debt by establishing a medical cannabis industry and exporting animal parts to China, where he says hyena testicles they are considered a delicacy.
“I have created a new tribe, known as the ganja tribe,” he said, explaining its popularity.
“These (politicians), they have helicopters, they have money, they have painted cars. I don’t even have a poster.”
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It has caught the attention of younger voters, who feel disenfranchised by established politicians
‘The ganja solution’
Wajackoyah is a well-known figure in Nairobi’s club scene, and local media coverage of his presidential bid has led to speculation that he is backed by a larger campaign to try to attract the youth vote.
However, he has dismissed these rumours, saying he has turned down offers of cash support from candidates.
Instead, he dreams of smoking weed in the president’s office.
“Let’s go to the house of the State and we will smoke it to remove the colonial impurities,” the 62-year-old man said in his
Wood-paneled office, wearing a cloth and listening to a Hare Krishna prayer.
Other policies in his manifesto range from federalizing the government and renegotiating Kenya’s debt with China to hanging people found guilty of corruption.
“We went in with the ganja solution,” he said.
A low-budget test campaign
The wild card candidate has a small budget, and his supporters create homemade posters with his snow-white beard and the slogan “Wajackoya the 5th”, referring to his bid to become Kenya’s fifth president.
“If I showed you how much money I have, you’d laugh,” he said.
Because of his budget, his rallies involved him arriving at markets unannounced, blasting reggae music from his car and pitching his candidacy to onlookers.
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He is currently polling around 2% of the vote, well behind the two frontrunners
On Wednesday, Mr Wajakoyah’s convoy headed to Gatundu, about 30km north of the capital, where a crowd of about 400 people gathered.
“Every election cycle everyone comes here with their propaganda,” said Jeff Mwangi, a worker.
“If this man can actually do what he’s saying … we’re going to go a long way as a country.”